Based on a true story of Polish submarine "Orzel" (The Eagle): September 1939, "Orzel" is coming to Estonian neutral harbor in Tallin. Under pressure from Germany Estonians have intern the ship. Commander Grabinski decides to escape to England through the Baltic Sea, without any maps that has been confiscated and with only small amount of fuel on board.
Practical Effects
Submarine set built from scratch—Polish engineering under communist constraints.
Acting
Gliński's exhausted eyes carry the entire Atlantic crossing.
Direction
Buczkowski squeezes dread from every rivet and gauge.
Director
Leonard Buczkowski
Wieńczysław Gliński
Captain Grabiński
Aleksander Sewruk
Commander Kozłowski
Jan Machulski
Lieutenant Pilecki
Roland Głowacki
Lieutenant Roland
Andrzej Herder
Second Lieutenant Morawski
Bronisław Pawlik
Mate Rokosz
Zbigniew Filus
Senior Bosman Wacław Pierzchała
Henryk Bąk
Bosman Leon Wiktorczyk
Ignacy Machowski
Bosman Mirta
Michał Gazda
Mate Okoń
Józef Łodyński
Mate Baczek
Tadeusz Gwiazdowski
Bosman Bryt
Jerzy Nowak
Mate Sznuk
Czesław Piaskowski
Bosman Serafin
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The real ORP Orzeł's escape inspired both Britain and Germany to tighten Baltic neutrality rules—Estonia paid for this movie's plot in invaded territory.
This was communist Poland's most expensive film ever made, partly to prove Polish naval heroism existed outside Soviet narratives. The submarine set? Built in a swimming pool.
PL
